"You got it all wrong Pandora!" That's what the Belize International Financial Services Association has to say about those leaked papers that are blowing up Belize as a secretive tax haven where shady characters hide their money.
A press release says the International Financial Services Industry, quote, "encompasses a gamut of highly specialized services which are heavily regulated by the Government…at least BZD50 million in annual economic benefits is brought to the Country with the lion's share going to the Government, and gainfully employs over 300 persons across all licensed services."
And as for the Pandora Papers, they say, quote, "this publication highlights decades-OLD information which is no longer relevant in today's highly regulated business environment. The publication creates the impression of an IFSI in Belize that is "anything goes". This is far from the truth." end quote. The release calls the Pandora takedown a smear and insists that it serves the industry with, quote, "the highest level of integrity and moral standards and does not circumvent the law or its regulations for short term gain." End quote.
